Tolf

ABSTRACT

A recreational toss golf game involving one to four members and a scoring method similar to the game of golf. A start flag and a target flag indicate the starting and ending positions of each round, with players tossing a large diameter ball from the starting flag towards the target flag. The player&#39;s ball that comes closest to the target flag scores the lowest for each round, and the player with the lowest combined score after all rounds is declared the winner. The game setup is modular and may be set up over different terrains or distances, depending on player preference and skill level. A full game may comprise any number of rounds up to 18, similar to a full round of golf. The game provides players with the joys of golf without requiring each player to invest time and money developing golf specific skills or paying for specialized equipment.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/312,787 filed on Mar. 11, 2010, entitled “TOLF”

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to outdoor recreational games. Morespecifically, the present invention relates to a hand toss golf gamewith a scoring system that rewards hand toss accuracy and one that canbe set up in any outdoor location.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Several patents have been suggested in the art that describe hand tossrecreation games with associated targets and rules of play. U.S. Pat.No. 5,575,483 to Dineen describes such a game, in which a transportablegolf toss game is disclosed involving tossable bean bags and targetreceptacles. Several players compete to toss their bags into thereceptacles in the least amount of tosses.

U.S. Published Patent Application 2004/0108652 to Vaden describesanother toss game that involves tossing objects into opposing targetreceptacles. This game pits two opponents or teams of opponents againstone another, with each team taking turns tossing their objects into theopposing team's receptacles. Like the Dineen patent, this game involvesa receptacle and a scoring system that rewards sinking the tossedobjects into the receptacle.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,367,797 to McKenna-Cress describes an alternative to thestandard method of playing golf, wherein players utilize their hands to“flick” or “nudge” a rubber ball into a cup rather than using a golfclub, putter and a traditional golf ball. The course is considerablyshortened, and the level of skill is reduced to incorporate a broaderrange of players.

U.S. Published Patent Application 2007/0262518 to Lapinski describes analternative set of rules for playing golf, in which golf equipment iscombined with the rules of bocce ball. Players compete to putt a set ofballs toward a target location. Each ball may be used to get closer tothe target, to strike another ball in order to improve one's own ballrelative to the target, or to knock an opposing player's ball fartherfrom the target location. The closest ball is scored, along with any ofthe same player's balls next closest before encountering an opposingball.

Each of the prior art patents describe games of varying difficulty, withdiffering elements and rules of play. They provide a fresh take on therules and skills required to play a game similar to traditional golf.However, these patents differ from the disclosed invention in severalways, including the rules of play and the elements of the game. Thedisclosed invention, TOLF, is a hand-toss golf game with a start flagand target flag. One or more participants toss a large diameter ballfrom the start flag towards the target flag, with the goal of coming asclose to the target flag as possible. A measuring tape is used todetermine the shortest distance, especially in those situations wheretwo opposing player's game balls are very close in distance to thetarget flag radially. One start and one target flag is provided for eachround of the game, with the game lasting any number of rounds up toeighteen.

The closest ball to the target flag in any radial direction is given thelowest score per round, continuing outward from the target flag to thelast player's ball. Scores are recorded and tallied after the eachround, with the cumulative score being calculated after the final round.The player with the lowest overall score is crowned the winner. Theintent of the game is to introduce players of all ages and skill levelsto the joys of golf, while utilizing a simpler method of moving the ballalong the course. The game eliminates the high degree of difficulty andamount of practice required to master the skills of golf, and invitesplayers of all ages and skill levels to participate.

The games in the prior art also describe games in which objects aretossed toward a target, however most involve a receptacle in which thetargets are required to enter before scoring can be calculated. Othersrequire opposing teams that compete to fill a respective receptacle witha tossed object. The present invention describes a game of distance,which requires skill of tossing and consideration for the surfaceconditions during play. A cup or basket is not required for scoringpurposes. The bocce golf game of Lapinski describes a distance game;however this game involves several balls which are putted using atraditional golf putter as opposed to a single object tossed toward atarget by hand. While all of the prior art games introduce a freshalternative to the outdoor game of golf, their rules, structure and gameplay differ from the disclosed invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types ofhand toss games now present in the prior art, the present inventionprovides a new hand toss game wherein the same can be utilized forproviding the user with an entertaining and modular game that can beenjoyed by players of all ages and skill levels.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide anentertaining hand toss game with rules similar to golf, in whichdistance from a target flag is measured to determine the most accurateplayer.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a game for one ormore players, involving up to 18 rounds with a start flag and targetflag, a tape measure for distance determination, and a scoring tabletfor recording scores.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a game thatincorporates the joys of playing a golf-type game without the rigidrules and specialized skills associated with its game play.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the disclosed game in progress.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of the tossgolf game in progress, wherein a player 11 tosses his game ball 12 froma start flag 13 toward a target flag 14, and the layout of a theoreticalcourse is shown in the background. A start flag 13 and a target flag 14are provided for each round of play, in which a plurality of players 11toss a game ball 12 towards the target flag in an attempt to have theirball 12, 16 settle closest to the target flag. The distance from thetarget flag 15 determines the accuracy of each player's toss, anddetermines the hierarchy of scoring between the participating members.

The toss golf game provides a set of eighteen start flags and eighteentarget flags, which define rounds of play and are spread over a givenoutdoor area. The distance and terrain chosen for each round aredetermined by the players, and may vary depending on skill level anddesired difficulty. Those terrains with mixed vegetation types orundulating playing surfaces may require increased skill to master, andmay intrigue different types of players. While flat or homogeneoussurfaces may be preferred by others. In this way, the game play can beenhanced or changed by choosing different locations and distancesbetween flags to setup the game and boost competition betweenparticipants.

While playing, the players may choose different game play embodimentsdepending upon player preferences. These may include measuring thedistance of each player's toss independently, and removing that tossfrom the playing surface prior to the next player making their attempt.Or the players may choose to allow collisions between game balls inorder to alter the resting point of a previous player's toss. Thisembodiment of the rules may add or detract from game play, depending onplayer preference. Players may also restrict each other from hitting oneanother's game balls once those balls have been tossed onto the playingsurface. Collisions in this embodiment of the game may constitute afoul. The foul could manifest itself in a distance penalty or othersimilar sanction. Not being able to hit another player's game ballincreases difficulty for later-tossed game balls. Careful planning maybe required and even involved trick shots that require side spin orbackspin to limit surface roll during a toss. Height of toss may also bea consideration with these types of rules.

If a larger course is desired, the participants may elect an embodimentof the game that includes stroke play. In this embodiment, multipletosses are required to reach the target flag. The spot of a previoustoss becomes the start point of a player's next toss. This increases thecomplexity and length of each round. However, the preferred embodimentof the game includes eighteen rounds and one toss per round per player,and a measurement of distance from the target flag to determine scoring.

A tape measure and clipboard tablet are included with the game flags andballs, which are used to determine the distance of each player's tossfrom the target flag and tally the scores accordingly. The measurementis taken from the base of the target flag directly to the nearest gameball, in any radial direction with regard to the target flag. In thepreferred embodiment of the game, the scoring is ranked in sequentialorder from closest to the farthest measurement. The closest tossed ballreceives the lowest score, increasing as the distance of each ballincreases radially from the target flag. At the end of each round, thescores are recorded on the tablet, and at the end of all rounds, thescores are calculated to determine the lowest cumulative score. Theplayer with the lowest cumulative score is crowned first place, secondlowest being second place, and so on.

The game may be played by any number of players, although one to fourplayers is ideal. The order of play may be determined by the order ofeach player's toss from a previous round. For instance, for a givenround, the player with the lowest score will toss first in the nextround, continuing downward from first place. The rules of order may alsobe updated to reflect the different embodiments of the rules. If playersare permitted to knock each other's game balls on the pitch, then beinglast to toss may be the most advantageous. In this embodiment, the firstplace toss from one round may wish to go last in the next round.Alternatively, if the rules are set that each player may not contactother players' game balls on the pitch, it may be advantageous to tossfirst. In any embodiment, the first place toss from a previous roundshould gain the most advantageous starting point in the next round.

The game balls themselves are large diameter, weighted spheres thatallow easy tossing for players of all ages. The balls may be smooth innature or have a given texture, and the color of each ball may differ toallow differentiation between different players' game balls on thepitch. The exact size of the game balls may be several inches indiameter, and the interior structure may be of any suitable material toallow for adequate weight. The exterior shell of the balls may beconstructed of a hard material to prevent denting of the ball whencontacting hard surfaces or other game balls in play. The exactspecification of the game balls may vary.

All items are stored in a convenient carrying bag, including the startflags and target flags, game balls and scoring tablet. This allows allaspects of the game set-up to be easily transported to a location thatallows for the rounds of play to be placed over a large, open area.

Overall, the toss golf game, or “TOLF”, is designed to attract all agegroups and all skill levels to the traditional golf style game, in whichplayers are rewarded for accuracy with respect to a given target. Thegame may be setup in any outdoor area, promoting exercise and outdooractivity without the rigidity and high skill level associated with thegame of golf.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized thatthe optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, toinclude variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and mannerof play, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious toone skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to thoseillustrated in the drawings and described in the specification areintended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of theinvention.

1) A method of playing a toss golf game, comprising the steps of:placing a plurality of start flags and corresponding target flags on aplaying surface to define a series of rounds of play; taking turnsbetween one or a plurality of players tossing a game ball from saidstart flag toward a said corresponding target flag; measuring a radialdistance from said target flag to said game ball of each said player;using said distance to determine scoring between said players. 2) Amethod as recited in claim 1, wherein said game ball is measuredimmediately after said toss and subsequently removed from said playingsurface prior to a next player's toss. 3) A method as recited in claim1, wherein said game balls are kept on said playing surface between saidturns, and each said player either attempts to toss said game ballclosest to said target flag or attempts to knock an opponent's game ballfarther from said target flag. 4) A method as recited in claim 1,wherein said scoring is ordered from best to worst, corresponding toshortest to largest said radial distance from said target flag. 5) Amethod as recited in claim 1, wherein said game balls are kept on saidplaying surface between said player's turns, and each player's game ballmay not contact an opponent's game ball on said playing surface. 6) Amethod as recited in claim 5, wherein said contact is deemed a foul, andconstitutes a penalty.